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Cotunnite

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Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
© Marco Barsanti

Show Cotunnite Photos (6)
Formula:
PbCl
 
2
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, white, light ...
Hardness:1½ - 2
Name:After Domenico Cotugno (1736-1822), Professor of Anatomy, University of Naples.
This page provides mineralogical data about Cotunnite.

Classification of Cotunnite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/D.0-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.DC.85

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
C : With Pb (As,Sb,Bi), without Cu
Dana 8th edition ID:9.2.7.1

9 : NORMAL HALIDES
2 : AX2
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.8.4

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
8 : Halides of Pb
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Type Occurrence of Cotunnite

Type Locality:Mt. Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
Year of Discovery:1825

Occurrences of Cotunnite

Geological Setting:Alteration product of galena under arid, saline conditions.

Physical Properties of Cotunnite

Lustre:Adamantine, Silky, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, white, light yellow, light green
Hardness (Mohs):1½ - 2
Tenacity:Sectile
Cleavage:Perfect
On {010}.
Fracture:Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):5.8 g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.81 g/cm3

Crystallography of Cotunnite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 7.62Å, b = 9.04Å, c = 4.53Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.843 : 1 : 0.501
Unit Cell Volume:V 312.05 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Usually flattened {010} and elongated [001]. Doubly terminated with equivalent faces unequally developed. Reentrant angles may be present in the prism zone due to oscillatory combination of {210} and {110}. Massive, granular.
Twinning:On {120} (artificial crystals).

Epitaxial Relationships of Cotunnite

Epitaxial Minerals:
Galena

Optical Data of Cotunnite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 2.199 nβ = 2.217 nγ = 2.260
2V:Measured: 67° , Calculated: 68°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.061

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:relatively strong

Chemical Properties of Cotunnite

Formula:
PbCl
 
2
Essential elements:Cl, Pb
All elements listed in formula:Cl, Pb

Relationship of Cotunnite to other Species

Common Associates:
MatlockiteCerussiteAnglesite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
3.DC.05Laurionite
PbClOH
3.DC.05Paralaurionite
PbClOH
3.DC.10Fiedlerite
Pb
 
3
Cl
 
4
F(OH)·H
 
2
O
3.DC.15Penfieldite
Pb
 
2
[OH|Cl
 
3
]
3.DC.20Laurelite
Pb(F,Cl,OH)
 
2
3.DC.25Bismoclite
BiOCl
3.DC.25Daubréeite
BiO(OH,Cl)
3.DC.25Matlockite
PbFCl
3.DC.25Rorisite
CaFCl
3.DC.25Zavaritskite
BiOF
3.DC.25Zhangpeishanite
BaFCl
3.DC.30Nadorite
PbSb[O
 
2
|Cl]
3.DC.30Perite
PbBi[O
 
2
|Cl]
3.DC.35Aravaipaite
Pb
 
3
[F
 
3
|AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
3.DC.35Calcioaravaipaite
PbCa
 
2
[(F,OH)
 
3
|AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
3.DC.40Thorikosite
Pb
 
3
[OH|(SbO
 
3
,AsO
 
3
)|Cl
 
2
]
3.DC.45Mereheadite
Pb
 
2
[O|OH|Cl]
3.DC.50Blixite
Pb
 
2
[(O,OH)
 
2
|Cl]
3.DC.55Pinalite
Pb
 
3
WO
 
3
Cl
 
2
3.DC.60Symesite
Pb
 
10
[O
 
7
|SO
 
4
|Cl
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
3.DC.65Ecdemite
Pb
 
6
[As
 
2
O
 
7
|Cl
 
4
]
3.DC.65Heliophyllite
Pb
 
3
AsO
 
4-n
Cl
 
2n+1
3.DC.70Mendipite
Pb
 
3
[O
 
2
|Cl
 
2
]
3.DC.75Damaraite
Pb
 
3
[O
 
2
|OH|Cl]
3.DC.80Onoratoite
Sb
 
8
O
 
11
Cl
 
2
3.DC.90Pseudocotunnite
K
 
2
PbCl
 
4
3.DC.95Barstowite
Pb
 
4
[Cl
 
6
|CO
 
3
] · H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
8.8.1Abhurite
Sn
 
21
Cl
 
16
(OH)
 
14
O
 
6
8.8.2Matlockite
PbFCl
8.8.3Laurelite
Pb(F,Cl,OH)
 
2
8.8.5Mendipite
Pb
 
3
[O
 
2
|Cl
 
2
]
8.8.6Damaraite
Pb
 
3
[O
 
2
|OH|Cl]
8.8.7Laurionite
PbClOH
8.8.8Paralaurionite
PbClOH
8.8.9Penfieldite
Pb
 
2
[OH|Cl
 
3
]
8.8.10Fiedlerite
Pb
 
3
Cl
 
4
F(OH)·H
 
2
O
8.8.11Blixite
Pb
 
2
[(O,OH)
 
2
|Cl]
8.8.12Pseudocotunnite
K
 
2
PbCl
 
4
8.8.13Diaboleite
Pb
 
2
CuCl
 
2
(OH)
 
4
8.8.14Pseudoboleite
Pb
 
31
Cu
 
24
Cl
 
62
(OH)
 
48
8.8.15Chloroxiphite
Pb
 
3
CuCl
 
2
(OH)
 
2
O
 
2
8.8.17Bideauxite
Pb
 
2
Ag[(F,OH)
 
2
|Cl
 
3
]
8.8.18Boleite
KPb
 
26
Ag
 
9
Cu
 
24
(OH)
 
48
Cl
 
62
8.8.19Aravaipaite
Pb
 
3
[F
 
3
|AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
8.8.20Yedlinite
Pb
 
6
(Cl,OH)
 
6
Cr
3+
 
(OH,O)
 
8
8.8.21Kolarite
PbTeCl
 
2
8.8.22Hematophanite
Pb
 
4
Fe
 
3
O
 
8
(OH,Cl)

Other Names for Cotunnite

Synonyms:
CottuniteLead chloride
German names:
ChlorbleiCotunnit
Italian names:
Cotunnia
Russian names:
Котуннит
Spanish names:
Cotunnita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Cotunnite

Reference List:Monticelli and Covelli (1825).

Kobell, Fr. Von (1830) Charakteristik der Mineralien. Part 1 (1830); part 2 (1831), Nürnberg: 2: 179.

Stöber (1895) Académie royale des sciences de Belgique, Brussels, Bull.: 30(3): 345.

Lacroix, A. (1910) Minéralogie de la France et des ses colonies, Paris. 5 volumes: vol. 4: 890.

Hintze, Carl (1912) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [2B]: 2350.

Goldschmidt, V. (1913) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 2: 193.

Lorenz and Eitel (1915) Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, Hamburg, Leipzig: 91: 48.

Russell (1920) Mineralogical Magazine: 14: 64.

Bräkken and Harang (1928) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 68: 123.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 42-44.

Mineralogial Abstracts (1969): 69: 1075.

Soviet Physics – Crystallography (1976): 21: 38.

Articles/Blogs about Cotunnite

Internet Links for Cotunnite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Cotunnite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Cotunnite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Cotunnite

    Hide Locality List
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Hohe Tauern Mts
        • Goldberg group
          • Kleine Fleiß valley
    		G. Niedermayr, I. Praetzel: Mineralien Kärntens, 1995
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • Tocopilla Province
        • Sierra Gorda District
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 44.
    • Tarapacá Region
      • Iquique Province
        • Challacollo
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 44; J. Schlüter at al.: N. Jb. Min. Abh. 182(1):95-101 (2005)
    France
     
    • Alsace
      • Haut-Rhin
        • Ste Marie-aux-Mines (Markirch)
    		Wittern, Journée: "Mineralien finden in den Vogesen", 1997
    Germany
     
    • Hesse
      • North Hesse
        • Richelsdorf District
          • Süss
            • Richelsdorf Smelter
    		S. Weiß: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Ruhr Coal Mining area
        • Essen
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990
        • Recklinghausen
          • Marl-Hüls
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990
    • Saxony-Anhalt
      • Mansfeld Basin
        • Helbra
    		XRD analysis (T. Witzke)
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Agios Konstantinos [St Constantine] (Kamareza; Kamariza)
    		No reference listed
        • Lavrion District slag localities
          • Passa Limani area
    		No reference listed
          • Thorikos area
    		No reference listed
    India
     
    • Karnataka
      • Kolar Gold Fields
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    		Soviet Physics, Crystallography, volume 21, pp. 38(1976); Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 43; Lapis 1994:5 p.13-23,58.
    • Tuscany
      • Grosseto Province
        • Massa Marittima
    		Brizzi G., Capperi M., Masotti A. - La miniera di pirite di Niccioleta, Massa Marittima (GR) - Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, Milano, Fasc. 4 (1989) e Fasc. 1 - 2(1990)
      • Livorno Province
        • Piombino
    		Lapis, 20 (4), 13-18+50.
    New Zealand
     
    • North Island
      • Waikato
    		Railton, G.L. & Watters, W.A., Minerals of New Zealand, New Zealand Geological Survey Bull. #104 (1990).
    Peru
     
    • Ancash Department
      • Pallasca Province
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 44.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Kamchatka Oblast'
        • Tolbachik volcano
          • Great Fissure (Main Fracture) eruption
            • Northern Breakthrough (North Breach)
            • Southern Breakthrough (South Breach)
    Spain
     
    • Asturias
    		José Rafael González López collection.
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • Wendron & Falmouth District
          • Helford - Falmouth Area
            • Falmouth
    		No reference listed
      • Devon
        • South Devon
          • Torquay
    		No reference listed
      • Somerset
        • Cranmore
    		Turner R.W. and Rumsey, M.S. (2007) Merehead Mineralogy - an Update. Russell Soc Newsletter, No 50, pp 17-18 (March 2007); Turner, R.W., (2006) A Mechanism for the formation of the Mineralised Mn Deposits at Merehead Quarry, Cranmore, Somerset, England. Min. Mag. vol. 70, no. 6, pp 629 - 653
    • Scotland
      • Dumfries & Galloway (Dumfries-shire) and Strathclyde (Lanarkshire)
        • Leadhills-Wanlockhead District
          • Wanlockhead
            • Wanlock Dod-Whytes Cleuch
    • Wales
      • Gwynedd (Caernarvonshire)
        • Lleyn Peninsula
          • Llanengan
            • Abersoch
    		Hubbard, N. & Green, D.I., 2005. Cotunnite from Penrhyn Du Mine, Gwynedd, Wales. Journal of the Russell Society, 8(2), 106-107.
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Mohave Co.
        • Grand Wash Cliffs
          • Bentley District
            • Grand Gulch
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd. ed.: 190; Hill, J.M. (1914b), The Grand Gulch Mining Region, Mohave Co., AZ, USGS Bull.580: 39-58; Galbraith, F.W. & Brennan (1959), Mineras of AZ: 44.
    • Massachusetts
      • Hampshire Co.
        • Easthampton
    		Rocks & Minerals: 23: 594-597.
    • Utah
      • Juab Co.
        • East Tintic Mts
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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